Celebrities laced their boots for a charity football match raising funds for Brain Tumour Research in memory of a teenager who died from the disease.
Recent EastEnders alumni Danny Dyer was amongst a host of famous faces who took to the pitch at Bracknell Town Football Club’s SB Stadium in Sandhurst. His soap opera co-stars Jake Wood, who played Max Branning, and Matt Lapinskas, who played Anthony Moon, also joined the team.
Also in the squad were singer-songwriter James Arthur and Hollyoaks actor Charlie Wernham, as well as other celebrities from hit TV shows, former contestants from Love Island, Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor, as well as sports presenters and internet sensations.
The match was in memory of Ethan Treharne who died from a glioblastoma (GBM) in November 2021, aged 17. Yesterday would have been Ethan’s 19th birthday.
A promising sports star, Ethan played for Sandhurst Town FC boys and girls from the age of four as well as being goalie for Aldershot academy.
Ethan’s mum Nikki said: “We were overwhelmed by the support of people who put their name forward to play in a match to remember our beautiful boy. The whole day was to be a celebration, starting with a memorial walk around Swinley Forest before the football match, which was refereed by Ethan’s old football coach.”
Nikki and Ethan’s dad Justin have already raised more than £10,000 for Brain Tumour Research and next month they will place a tile on the Wall of Hope at our Centre of Excellence at Queen Mary University of London.
Nikki added: “As parents, it’s important for us to continue the fight to honour Ethan. Of course it’s bittersweet; we lost our son but if we can stop other families from going through the pain of losing a child then we will keep going. We hope to lay many tiles to keep his name out there to ensure he is remembered for years to come.”